Amidst the racks of flowing silks and structured linens, carrying hefty price tags, ARA Pret, the ready-to-wear line from philanthropist and fashion change-maker Kulsum Shadab Wahab, holds its own with designer styles and high-street prices.
Launched with a two-day pop-up at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, and now retailing at Ffolio and online at www.arapret.com, ARA Pret made its debut with a collection titled “Timeless Elegance.”
Fluid, contemporary, and universally flattering silhouettes—ranging from tailored separates, draped dresses, quirky, bold power shirts, and easy-fit co-ords—come in a sophisticated palette of ivory, sand, midnight, and blush, with a decent price tag attached. In the fast-evolving landscape of Indian fashion—where fast and furious style collides with heritage couture—ARA Pret actually marries aesthetic intention with social intervention.
Following the successful launch of ARA Lumiere—her survivor-led design label that journeyed from India to Milan—Wahab’s newest venture channels her commitment to inclusivity into a more accessible, scalable model. With ARA Pret, she aims to create a space for what she describes as conscious luxury: “clothes that don’t just look good, but do good.”
Cut from low-impact yet luxe fabrics such as Banana Crepe, Dutch Satin, Glazed Cotton, and Cotton Satin, the line offers nearly 40 styles that seamlessly transition from desk to dinner, from everyday moments to statement occasions. “Each piece is ethically made, and every purchase contributes directly to the rehabilitation, therapy, and financial empowerment of acid and burn attack survivors,” she explains, referencing the very women who inspired this label’s genesis.
“I started ARA Lumiere, a couture label, to champion a cause very close to my heart. Through ARA Pret, I wanted to take the narrative to the high street. For me, it’s a bold reimagining of fashion as a circular ecosystem, where social impact is not an afterthought but the foundation of the label. At ARA, we believe that what you wear should tell a story, and with ARA Pret, we’ve created clothing that is as empowering for the woman who wears it as it is for the woman who helped make it,” she adds, hoping it will signal a gradual shift in the Indian fashion dialogue—toward inclusive, survivor-led design that is both aspirational and attainable.
“At ARA, we believe that what you wear should tell a story—not just of style, but of strength,” says Wahab. “With ARA Pret, we’ve created clothing that is as empowering for the woman who wears it as it is for the woman who helped make it.”
Prices range from ₹4,500 to ₹14,000.
